Build the Introduction

They also felt much lonelier.

And this is true even of our days off. Maybe you’ve taken a call at the beach, texted your boss from the grocery store, or emailed

a colleague while on a picnic with your family. We’ve convinced ourselves that these behaviors are no

others were told to check their phone as little as possible. After the visit, parents who used their phones reported that the experience was significantly less meaningful.

big deal. It’s just one email. But there’s a real cost to these interruptions, and there are smart strategies we can all take to better protect our time.

These moments seem so small at the time, and yet research suggests they add up to a tremendous loss. The constant creep of work into our personal lives can increase our stress and undermine our happiness. So just what is the cost?

In one study, researchers recruited parents who were visiting a science museum with their kids. Some parents were told to check their phone as much as possible;